The Soldier: A History of Courage, Sacrifice and Brotherhood investigates the burdens
that soldiers are asked to bear by their respective societies, examines the context
in which these burdens occur, and discusses the coping measures that enable soldiers
to carry on. Topics include: how soldiers confront the possibility of their mutilation
and death; the mental and social conditioning that enable soldiers to kill in battle;
the anguish of killing your own comrades, whether this be deliberately through the
application of the death penalty, or accidentally, as result of fratricide; the effect
of denying soldiers regular social interaction with women in the context of the relationship
between sex, love and war; and the ‘trial by media’ faced by modern soldiers in relation
to their decisions and actions on the battlefield.

Reviews

Andrew Roberts

"This powerful book provides a timely reminder of the debt we owe our servicemen
and women.It should be read by all those who seek to understand the fear and confusion
of the battlefield and especially by the politicians who put our soldiers, sailors,
marines and airmen in harm's way."

War Books Review

"…a coolly dispassionate, historical examination of what it is to be a front-line
soldier, from the Napoleonic Wars to contemporary conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan….a
fine work of military history. It deserves to do well."

Military Illustrated

"This is a very rich bookthat thoroughly explores the psychology and behaviour of
the soldier on the frontline."

Soldier Magazine

"An intriguing look at the emotion, psychology and politics that underpin soldiering…
This is essential reading for any military leader or practitioner."

Australian Defence Force Journal

"...a large, impressively expansive and highly- fascinating collection of stories
and statistics about being a soldier. It is encyclopedic in detail, widely and deeply
researched, and written in a simple reporting style that is very easy to read…. On
every page there is some intriguing fact or figure ."

Australian Army Journal

"If you are interested in man in battle this book is well worth your time."

Max Arthur (author of We Will Remember Them: Voices of the Aftermath of the Great
War

"This is a powerful book and should be read by anyone contemplating taking the Queen¹s
shilling."

Martin Bell OBE

"Darren Moore's book really gets inside the soldier¹s mind and benefits from setting
out the record without sentiment.It is a timely and unvarnished reminder of the reality
of warfare."

Daily Mail

"... thoughtful study of the impact of fighting on the individual soldier."

Media, War & Conflict

"... succeeds in putting his reader into the situation he describes and is highly
successful in giving civilian readers a better understanding of the lives of those
who serve in war zones on their behalf."

Goodreading Magazine

"... a revealing, often sad and sobering read.Using real, recorded soldiers' account
of conflict ... Moore provides a window into the myriad emotions soldiers experience:
fear of death, mutilation and leaving loved ones behind; anger and frustration at
the way their roles are viewed by others and the media; and the mixed emotions evoked
by the killing of another person, whether the enemy or their comrades."

Good Reads

"The book is very well organized, each chapter dealing with a particular aspect of
a soldier's life. The author does a fantastic job of bringing the brutalities of
war through the words of the soldiers participating in them. Focusing mainly on the
experiences of the two world wars, the author explains quite a few unknown facts
about the makeup of armies and the wars they fight."

Good Reads

"This new book by Darren Moore covers ground previously explored by such writers
as Richard Holmes (Firing Line), Hugh McManners (Scars of War) and Gwynne Dyer (War)
to name but a few.However this book is still well worth the time to read. The book
covers numerous aspects of the role of a soldier in society, mainly in times of conflict.
The author utilises many first hand accounts to highlight points within the narrative.
These accounts range from private soldiers to generals, from the Napoleonic period
to the current war on terror.This is a very easy book to read and I managed to get
through the 400 odd pages in a few days. Overall this is a good book that should
be read by all that want to understand what a soldier goes through in his career
and this is a book that should be read by all that have the power to send a soldier
into harms way."